Fans of science fiction have been in love with Rick And Morty since the show's inception. The over-the-top animated comedy series is made for adults, from the humor to the surprisingly complex scientific elements. While the show features a lot of science to grasp, one of the more interesting devices that viewers see in the hands of the many versions of Rick Sanchez is their portal guns.

The small device appears frequently as Rick, Morty, and the rest of their family struggle to solve the problems each new episode confronts them with. Initially seeming like a simple device, the portal gun has since become more complex. As with all of Rick’s inventions, its precise way of functioning may be a mystery for some fans of Rick And Morty.

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What Is Rick’s Portal Gun?

Rick’s portal gun is a marvel of a device, allowing Rick Sanchez and all those who accompany him to travel across different realities, dimensions, universes, and space itself. He doesn’t need anyone else, all he needs is the portal gun, something he isn’t shy about saying throughout the series:

The small device is rarely far from Rick, allowing him to uncover the secrets of existence as he travels where only other alternate Ricks and alternate Mortys have gone before. It is first and foremost a gun that creates portals for travel, but it can do much more in the hands of someone as brilliant as Rick Sanchez. It is also worth noting that the device is dangerous whether used intentionally, accidentally, or if an overly ambitious Rick doesn’t take his time to craft (or buy) the required fuel for the device.

Resembling a television remote, a small handheld vacuum, or even a gun, the portal gun is a sleek device that is small enough for Rick to tuck inside his coat. The portal gun’s most notable features are a small display face that can show various information, and the glowing green substance that juts out from the top. It’s far from the prettiest device out there, but it can be considered one of Rick's crowning achievements for a variety of reasons.

How Does Rick’s Portal Gun Work?

Portal Gun Functions

• Creating portals of varying sizes across dimensions, universes, and more.
• Viewable portal history.
• Detectable upon destruction.
• Self-destruct mechanism.
• Compatible with other devices.
• Potentially more is yet to be revealed.

The functionality of Rick’s portal gun is fascinating, as it can seem limitless in its scope. As Rick puts it:

While the device may seem relatively standard in that it can create portals, that is only its primary function. The device also keeps a history of where the portal gun has opened portals to. It can also be tracked, though this is typically only done up on the Citadel of Ricks. The gun can also create a self-imploding portal that will drag it and everything nearby into it in case of an emergency.

The most important part of the portal gun’s functionality stems from that bright green liquid that it houses. It is possible for Rick’s portal gun to run out of charge, though when he says this, he is likely referring to a shortage of this liquid. The glass chamber probably functions as a fuel tank, despite Rick’s wording. It seems that the liquid the portal gun uses is the main culprit behind the ability to travel through portals.

The fluid used in the gun has become known as Quantum Transport Solution. This may be a slight change from earlier iterations of the gun, which seem to show some sort of plasma energy instead. The solution is tricky for any ordinary person to get their hands on, as the liquid comes from a variety of glowing rocks that Rick must obtain illegally. However, there appears to be some way for the different Ricks to make an adequate substance, referred to as a "bootleg." The bootleg substance requires a Rick to pay close attention to his calculations, as a single mistake will lead to any created portals destroying whoever should walk into them.

While the portal gun can interface with other pieces of technology and even be used for combat and self-defense, its true limitations are yet to be seen. Due to the cartoon nature of the device, it seems to be capable of doing whatever is required whenever Rick needs it, similar to the Sonic Screwdriver of Doctor Who. Perhaps one day, fans will be treated to the true limitations of Rick’s portal gun.

The Tragic Backstory Of Rick’s Portal Gun

As with many aspects of Rick and Morty, even Rick’s portal gun has a bit of a tragic backstory behind it. Originally, the portal gun was created by Rick Prime, seeking to share the dimension-hopping device with other versions of himself across space and time. While many versions of Rick accepted the technology and knowledge required to understand and wield the device, the primary Rick of the series (Rick C-137) did not.

Enraged by Rick’s lack of enthusiasm thanks to his happy home life, Rick Prime sent a bomb to Rick C-137’s dimension, killing his wife Diane and his daughter Beth. The rage inflicted upon Rick C-137 by Rick Prime led to him figuring out how to make a portal gun of his own, becoming the only other Rick known to have created the device. Once Rick had his portal gun operational, he set out on his journey to find and take his revenge against Rick Prime in whatever form he could. This backstory serves as not only a history of the device itself, but also the history of the Rick that Rick and Morty fans know and love.

Rick and Morty can be streamed now on Hulu.

Rick and Morty

Created by

Justin Roiland , Dan Harmon

Where to watch

Adult Swim

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